Self-management courses

Bipolar UK runs eight-week online self-management courses for people living with bipolar.

This group psychoeducation programme aims to help people living with bipolar to understand the condition better, and to empower them with tools and coping strategies to improve their quality of life.

  • Bipolar UK’s self-management courses are open to you if you:

    • have a diagnosis of bipolar
    • are 18 or older
    • are 16 or 17, if you bring a parent, legal guardian or carer along
    • live in the catchment area of the individual course 

    Bipolar UK is not able to offer you a space on a course if you are severely unwell or in the middle of an episode (rating 8, 9, 10 or 2, 1, 0 on our Mood Scale).

    You will, of course, be welcome to sign up for a course at a later date when you are well again.

  • Each Bipolar UK self-management course includes eight weekly sessions.

    Each session is 90 minutes.

  • Bipolar UK self-management courses are held online via Zoom.

    When you sign up for a course, you will be sent a joining link for each session.

  • The Bipolar UK course has been put together for people living with bipolar to:

    • help them understand the condition better
    • give them a space to share experiences and approaches to self-management
    • discover tools and coping strategies to improve their quality of life
    • learn from other people who live with the condition
    • get moral support and encouragement on what can sometimes be a very lonely journey

    Week 1: Introduction to bipolar
    Week 2:
    What is bipolar?
    Week 3: What causes bipolar?
    Week 4: Medication
    Week 5: Psychological approaches
    Week 6: Self-management and lifestyle factors 
    Week 7: Bringing it all together
    Week 8: Friends and family session (optional)

  • Bipolar UK’s self-management courses are based on the Bipolar Education Programme Cymru, run by the Centre for Mental Health in Cardiff, and Optima at South London and Maudsley.

    The course has been shown to improve outcomes, and to reduce relapse rates and hospital admissions. You can see the research findings here.

  •  London Evening Course

    • Date: 22 October - 10 December 2025
    • Time: 6:30pm - 8pm
    • When: Every Wednesday
    • Open to: People who live and work in London

    Sign up here

  • If you meet all the eligibility criteria for a course, you can sign up using the links for the individual courses. 

    By signing up to the course you agree to receive relevant emails directly from Bipolar UK about the self-management course.

    You will also need to complete and return an emergency contact form. We will email you the form once you have signed up.